(a)i) Define the term computer system. (i) List the major components of the computer system and give one example of each. (b)(i) List two activities involve...

(a)(i) Define the term computer system.

A computer system is a complete set of interconnected components (hardware, software, data and people) that work together to accept data as input, process it under the control of stored instructions, and produce information as output, as well as store the data and results for future use.

(a)(ii) Major components of the computer system, with one example each:

• Hardware - the physical parts of the computer. Example: keyboard, monitor or CPU.
• Software - the programs and instructions that direct the hardware. Example: Microsoft Windows (operating system) or MS Word.
• Data/Information - the raw facts fed in and the processed results. Example: a list of students' scores.
• People (Users/Liveware) - the human beings who operate and use the system. Example: a computer operator or programmer.

(Where "components" is taken narrowly as hardware units: Input unit - keyboard; Central Processing Unit - microprocessor; Output unit - monitor; Storage unit - hard disk.)

(b)(i) Two activities involved in transferring data into information:

• Processing the data (for example sorting, calculating, classifying or summarising it).
• Organising and presenting the results in a meaningful, useful form (for example arranging into a report or table).

Other acceptable activities: collecting/inputting data, editing/validating, and storing.

(b)(ii) Acronyms in full:

• EDSAC - Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator.
• EDVAC - Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer.